Hello,

There have been some changes to Fabric Manager that you should understand between 2.x and the more current versions. The Cisco Fabric Manager installation process has changed starting in release 3.2(1). Cisco Fabric Manager (also known as FM) is no longer embedded in SAN-OS software and you cannot install FM from Cisco MDS 9000 switches. The relational database is now separated from Cisco FM software, and there are two distinct versions of Cisco FM. The two versions are FM Standalone and FM Server. FM Servers is best suited for users who need to use Performance Manager, EMC MDS Email Home, or require Client / Server configurations. FM Standalone is best suited for users who can use a standalone application without the previously stated features.

Prior to Fabric Manager 3.1(2b), there was only one standard database that Fabric Manager used to store its data. It was the Hypersonic HSQL database. During testing for a customer problem with FM not displaying current configuration information, Cisco found that Hypersonic database was being corrupted on the large amount of data associated with large complex SANs. Cisco therefore began the process of looking for a new database to use with Fabric Manager. In Fabric Manager 3.1(2b) Cisco began to allow the use of Oracle 10G Express instead of the Hypersonic HSQL database.
Pre Fabric Manager 3.1(2b) → Hypersonic HSQL Database. Found to be problematic with large SANs.
Fabric Manager 3.1(2b) → Hypersonic HSQL Database or Oracle 10 G Express Database allowed

Cisco FM required a more robust, commercial grade database for improved scalability and reliability and the previous embedded Java database did not scale well. A more flexible and extensible Cisco FM server framework was required for managing Fibre Channel and Data Center switches and commercial database and Cisco FM server framework far exceed flash space available on switches for management software.
With Fabric Manager 3.2(1), Hypersonic HSQL is no longer supported. New choices are Oracle 10 G or the new PostgreSQL. Data in old Hypersonic HSQL from previous version of Fabric Manager will be imported into the new database when you upgrade. Here are the reasons why PostgreSQL may be a better choice than Oracle for most customers.

PostgreSQL database versus Oracle 10 G Express Database
Automated installer with Windows vs Requires manual installation before FM is installed
Open Source vs Each installation must be separately registered
Included on the Fabric Manager CD vs Must be downloaded directly from Oracle
Can be used with other PostgreSQL databases vs Conflicts with ECC¿s use of Oracle
Should be used for most installations vs Use for large SANs (over 1000 or more end devices)

In regards to licensed versus stand alone versions. It depends what you are going to use it for. The new Fabric Manager Server (FMS) is a true client/server model now. You can install FMS (License) with and without a license. Without a license you are limited on running the client local, only opening on SAN at a time, etc. FMS does have advantages to it as it keeps monitoring the SAN while the GUI is closed which is necessary for applications like EMC Email Home. When you close the standalone application, it is completely removed from memory and stops and monitoring.

I would recommend reading through Cisco's Fabric Manager Config Guide located on Cisco.com for some background. I have additionally created a step by step manual with all the above stated information and more in it. If you are interested in it, please contact your EMC Customer Service Engineering and they should be able to provide it to you.

Any further questions, please post them. Thank you.